A new oral antibiotic, gepotidacin, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this week for the treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs). According to the manufacturer, GSK plc, gepotidacin is a first-in-class antibiotic with a novel mechanism that inhibits bacterial DNA replication to treat female adults and pediatric patients (≥12 years, ≥40 kg) with uncomplicated UTIs. It’s designed to target several of the most common UTI-causing bacteria such as E. coli and was found to be effective against organisms resistant to current treatments in clinical trials, according to GSK.
More options: In October 2024, FDA also approved the combination sulopenem etzadroxil and probenecid, another oral antibiotic designed to treat uncomplicated UTIs, and last May additionally approved the oral antibiotic pivmecillinam as well.